COSATU Strike action on the electricity crisis, Mpumalanga, Free State, Nothern Cape 14-07-08

 

Media alert

More strike action on the electricity crisis

Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape

16 July 2008

On Wednesday 16 July 2008 the Congress of South African Trade Unions will continue with its strike action and demonstrations on the issue of the electricity crisis in South Africa, in Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape. Full details of the activities are listed below.

The strike action is in accordance with COSATU's Notice under Section 77 (1) (b) of the Labour Relations Act, dated 13 March 2008, in response to the danger of retrenchments in the mining sector and elsewhere due to Eskom's decision to reduce electricity supply to industry and its threat to oppose any new major construction initiatives.

COSATU is further concerned that Eskom's 27.5% tariff increase, which municipalities can increase still further, will put thousands more jobs at risk, as companies, already facing massive increases in the cost of fuel and interest rates, try to balance their books by retrenching workers, or may be forced to close down.

COSATU acknowledges that the current power-cuts and power shortages constitute a national crisis which affects all South Africans. We will work actively and constructively to help manage the power-shortage and to find a lasting solution, but are adamant that workers should not be asked to pay for government's failure to invest in electricity in the late 1990s, as a result of its plans to privatise Eskom and do nothing when it was warned about the amount of investment that would be required to meet the expected rise in demand for power in the future.

Workers can rest assured that all those who participate in the strike will be protected by law and cannot legally be victimised or punished, except for those performing genuinely essential services and who do essential maintenance work.

The action will then continue on 23 July 2008 in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo and culminate in a national strike on 6 August.

Deployment for 16 July Provincial Strikes

Province
Venue and activity: All starting at 10h00
Contact
Main speaker

1. Mpumalanga

Nelspruit: gather outside showground March to Eskom
Mapetla Mashele

078 323 0735
Thobile Ntola, SADTU Deputy President

Witbank: gather at Broadway garage parking

March to Eskom
Leah Khoza

076 842 5795
Sidumo Dlamini, COSATU President

Secunda: gather at open space next to Secunda Graveyard. March to Police Station where employers will receive memorandum
Petros Sehlabela

076 051 1908
Welile Nolingo, CEPPWAWU General Secretary

Kwa Mhlanga: gather at Kwaggafontein Hall

March to Kwagga-plaza Shoprite
Issy Thwala

082 885 5949

013 947 3079
Bones Skulu, SACCAWU General Secretary

Bushbuckridge: gather at Twincity Complex

March to Police Station
Pretty Makhubedu

072 212 4090
Abbey Witbooi, POPCRU General Secretary

Ermelo: gather at Mpumalanga Stadium

March to Checkers Mall
Ellias Shabangu

082 974 6480
Mabutho Sithole, CWUSA President

Nkomazi: gather at Old Taxi Rank

March to Civic Old Taxi Rank to Civic Centre
James Mhlabane

082 372 6653
Lulamile Sotaka, NEHAWU First Deputy President

2. Free State
Bloemfontein: gather at Pax Nova Maguang

March to the Premiers Office in Saint Andrews Street
Sam Mashinini

082 563 6955
Bheki Ntshalintshali, COSATU Deputy General Secretary

3. Northern Cape

Kimberley: gather at Open Air Arena

March to Eskom in Saint George Street and to National Institute of Higher Learning
William Sikali

082 491 1591
Zwelinzima Vavi, COSATU General Secretary

De Aar: Details to follow
Ntamehlo

083 294 0237
Keith Jacobs, CEPPWAWU Deputy General Secretary

Upington: Details to follow
Joyce Muller

076 416 5446
Derrick Elbrecht, NUM National Treasurer

Kuruman: Stayaway, Details to follow
Patrick Mngoma

082 484 6751
Daniel Van Wyk, PAWUSA General Secretary

Springbok: will hold a motorcade, Details to follow

Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets

Braamfontein, 2017

P.O. Box 1019

Johannesburg, 2000

SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24

Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667

Cell: 0828217456

E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za